U.S. patent application number 12/272723 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-17 for interconnectable hinged structural elements.
Invention is credited to David L. Child.
Application Number | 20110036040 12/272723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43587741 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110036040 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Child; David L. |
February 17, 2011 |
INTERCONNECTABLE HINGED STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
Abstract
A hinged structural building element and collapsible system of
building elements is disclosed. The core element is a relatively
flat structural piece having a hinge section extending from one
edge of the element to an opposite edge of the element. The hinge
section allows the building element or structural piece to be
essentially folded upon itself A preferred embodiment of the hinge
section extending the length of each of the building elements is a
living hinge. The living hinge may be fabricated from any of a
large variety of materials including a flexible or pliable
material, such as plastic or rubber, tape, string, wire, rubberized
O-rings, and/or any of a wide variety of textile materials. The
system of building elements may be easily interconnected to
construct and build various structures, in various scales and
sizes, including box shapes, cube shapes, or structures as complex
as towers, bridges, and geo-domes.
Inventors: |
Child; David L.; (Wayne,
PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STRADLEY RONON STEVENS & YOUNG, LLP
30 VALLEY STREAM PARKWAY, GREAT VALLEY CORPORATE CENTER
MALVERN
PA
19355-1481
US
|
Family ID: |
43587741 |
Appl. No.: |
12/272723 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60988503 |
Nov 16, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/588.1 ;
446/85; 52/646; 52/655.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 9/12 20130101; A63F
2009/1244 20130101; A63H 33/088 20130101; A63F 9/088 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/588.1 ;
52/646; 52/655.1; 446/85 |
International
Class: |
E04C 2/40 20060101
E04C002/40; E04H 12/02 20060101 E04H012/02; E04B 1/38 20060101
E04B001/38; A63H 33/04 20060101 A63H033/04 |
Claims
1. A system of structural elements, comprising: a plurality of
structural elements each said structural element having a front
side and back side, a first pair of substantially parallel and
opposing edges, a second pair of substantially parallel and
opposing edges, and a flexible hinge section located between said
first pair of opposing edges, said flexible hinge extending between
said second pair of opposing edges; and interconnecting means
formed along each of said two pair of opposing edges, whereby the
structural elements may be interconnected with other structural
elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures.
2. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the hinge section is a living hinge.
3. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the hinge section is tape.
4. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the hinge section is a plurality of rubberized O-rings.
5. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the hinge section is a textile material.
6. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting
element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of
opposing edges.
7. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along
each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male
connecting element and female connecting element along each of the
second pair of opposing edges.
8. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 1,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots
formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male
connecting element and one female connecting element formed along
each of the second pair of opposing edges.
9. A collapsible system of structural elements, comprising: a
plurality of structural elements each said structural element
having two sides and four edges; a flexible, living hinge means
along one of the four edges of each of the plurality of structural
elements whereby said living hinge means connects one of a
plurality of structural elements to another one of a plurality of
structural elements; and interconnecting means formed along each of
the three other edges of each of the plurality of structural
elements, whereby the structural elements may be interconnected
with other structural elements to construct three dimensional forms
and structures.
10. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the living hinge means is a pliable plastic material.
11. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the living hinge means is a textile material.
12. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the living hinge means is tape.
13. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting
element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of
opposing edges.
14. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along
each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male
connecting element and female connecting element along each of the
second pair of opposing edges.
15. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 9,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots
formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male
connecting element and one female connecting element formed along
each of the second pair of opposing edges.
16. A system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of
structural elements having four edges, and further having a
flexible, living hinge means that allows each structural element to
fold, and further having interconnecting means along each of the
four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby
the structural elements may be interconnected with other structural
elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures.
17. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the living hinge means is a pliable plastic material.
18. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the living hinge means is a textile material.
19. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the living hinge means is tape.
20. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the interconnecting means at least one male connecting
element and female connecting element along each of the two pair of
opposing edges.
21. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise at least one slot along
each of the first pair of opposing edges, and at least one male
connecting element and female connecting element along each of the
second pair of opposing edges.
22. The system of structural elements, as provided in claim 16,
wherein the interconnecting means comprise more than three slots
formed along each of the first pair of opposing edges, and one male
connecting element and one female connecting element formed along
each of the second pair of opposing edges.
23. A collapsible system of structural elements, comprising: a
plurality of structural elements having at least three edges; a
plurality of hinge elements connecting one of the at least three
edges of each plurality of structural elements to another one of
the at least three edges of another structural element; and at
least two connecting sections along each of the remaining at least
three edges of the plurality of structural elements, wherein each
of said plurality of structural elements may be connected to
another of said plurality of structural elements, and further
wherein the collapsible system of connected plurality of structural
elements is collapsible to an approximate flat configuration when
collapsed, and the collapsible system of connected plurality of
structural elements forms a three-dimensional geometric structure
when fully unfolded.
24. The collapsible system, as provided in claim 23, wherein the
plurality of hinge elements are living hinges.
25. The collapsible system, as provided in claim 23, wherein the
plurality of hinge elements are tape.
26. The collapsible system, as provided in claim 23, wherein the
plurality of hinge elements are rubberized O-rings.
27. The collapsible system, as provided in claim 23, wherein the
plurality of hinge elements are a textile material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/988,503, filed on Nov.
16, 2007, the text and figures of which are incorporated into this
application by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to structural building
elements. More particularly, the disclosed invention relates to a
type of interconnectable structural building element, and a
plurality of those building elements which may be interconnected
into a system of building elements that, in a collapsed and
disassembled state, are very compact for ease of storage and
transport, and which can be easily combined to form a variety of
different, and varied complexity, three-dimensional structures. In
one preferred embodiment, the system of building elements can be a
toy or play-object used to create different shapes and structures.
In another preferred embodiment, the system of building elements,
using larger sized building elements, can be used to form the core
or frame sections of models, buildings, bridges or other larger
structures.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The ability to quickly and easily construct a variety of
three-dimensional structures using a series of elemental
substructures is known in the prior art. Some examples include
simple wooden blocks, or K'NEX.RTM. for toys, and prefabricated
walls or platforms for housing construction. In the toy or play set
area, the ability to provide a creative base from which to build
and construct different structures is a valued learning tool. For
larger structure construction, the ability to have a compact
storage, and ease of transportation for building elements that can
then be easily assembled into a variety of structures would be a
highly valued feature for use in temporary housing, disaster
recovery, or even camping and sporting events.
[0004] While there are examples of using building elements to
construct larger and more complex structures, each have various
deficiencies or problems associated with their usage. What is
needed is a building element that has features such that it may be
sized and fabricated to be used as a toy or play construction set,
and which, by making the element pieces larger, can also be used as
a means to construct larger structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The above noted problems, which are inadequately or
incompletely resolved by the prior art are completely addressed and
resolved by the present invention.
[0006] A preferred aspect of the present invention is a system of
structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural elements,
with each structural element having a front side and back side, a
first pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, a second
pair of substantially parallel and opposing edges, and a flexible
hinge section located between said first pair of opposing edges,
said flexible hinge extending between said second pair of opposing
edges; and interconnecting means formed along each of said two pair
of opposing edges, whereby the structural elements may be
interconnected with other structural elements to construct three
dimensional forms and structures.
[0007] Another preferred aspect of the present invention is a
collapsible system of structural elements, comprising a plurality
of structural elements each said structural element having two
sides and four edges; a flexible, living hinge means along one of
the four edges of each of the plurality of structural elements
whereby said living hinge means connects one of a plurality of
structural elements to another one of a plurality of structural
elements; and interconnecting means formed along each of the three
other edges of each of the plurality of structural elements,
whereby the structural elements may be interconnected with other
structural elements to construct three dimensional forms and
structures.
[0008] Still another preferred aspect of the present invention is a
system of structural elements, comprising a plurality of structural
elements having four edges, and further having a flexible, living
hinge means that allows each structural element to fold, and
further having interconnecting means along each of the four edges
of each of the plurality of structural elements, whereby the
structural elements may be interconnected with other structural
elements to construct three dimensional forms and structures.
[0009] The invention will be best understood by reading the
following detailed description of the several disclosed embodiments
in conjunction with the attached drawings that briefly described
below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention is best understood from the following detailed
description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various
features of the several drawings are not to scale, and the
invention is not limited to the precise arrangement as may be shown
in the accompanying drawings. On the contrary, the dimensions and
locations of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or
reduced for clarity, unless specifically noted in the attached
claims.
[0011] FIG. 1: is a top view of a preferred embodiment of a
building element in a fully open configuration;
[0012] FIG. 2: is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a
building element in a fully open, partially folded, and fully
folded configuration;
[0013] FIG. 3A: is an isometric view of two building elements about
to be connected;
[0014] FIG. 3B is an isometric view of two building elements
partially connected;
[0015] FIG. 3C: is an isometric view of two building elements fully
connected;
[0016] FIG. 4: is an isometric view of a triangular prism
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element;
[0017] FIG. 5: is an isometric view of two triangular prisms
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element and interconnected;
[0018] FIG. 6: is an isometric view of one version of a cube
structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element;
[0019] FIG. 7: is an isometric view of a dodecagon structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element;
[0020] FIG. 8: is an isometric view of a spherical shaped structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element;
[0021] FIG. 9: is an isometric view of another version of a
spherical shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment
of an inventive building element;
[0022] FIG. 10: is a top view of another preferred embodiment of an
inventive building element having slot interconnecting
elements;
[0023] FIG. 11: is an isometric view of two building elements about
to be connected;
[0024] FIG. 12A: is another isometric view of two building elements
about to be connected;
[0025] FIG. 12B is an isometric view of two building elements
partially connected;
[0026] FIG. 12C: is an isometric view of two building elements
fully connected;
[0027] FIG. 13: is an isometric view of three building elements
about to be interconnected;
[0028] FIG. 14: is an isometric view of four building elements
about to be interconnected;
[0029] FIG. 15: is an isometric view of five building elements
about to be interconnected;
[0030] FIG. 16: is an isometric view of two building elements being
interconnected using the side slot sections;
[0031] FIG. 17: is an isometric view of two building elements
interconnected using the end slot sections;
[0032] FIG. 18: is an isometric view of a triangular shape
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element;
[0033] FIG. 19: is an isometric view of a building structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, from a cube and triangular prism shape;
[0034] FIG. 20: is an isometric view of a tower building structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element;
[0035] FIG. 21: is an isometric view of a dome type building
structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element;
[0036] FIG. 22: is an isometric view of a geo-dome building
structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element;
[0037] FIG. 23: is a photograph of a model double helix constructed
from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building element;
[0038] FIG. 24: is a photograph of a version of a spherical shaped
structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element;
[0039] FIG. 25: is a photograph of a second version of a spherical
shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an
inventive building element;
[0040] FIG. 26: is a photograph of a third version of a spherical
shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an
inventive building element;
[0041] FIG. 27: is a photograph of a fourth version of a spherical
shaped structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an
inventive building element using a plurality of triangular shapes
for the surface pieces;
[0042] FIG. 28: is a photograph of a fifth version of a spherical
shape constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element;
[0043] FIG. 29: is a photograph of a version of a cubic shaped
structure constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive
building element using a plurality of triangular shapes for the
surface pieces;
[0044] FIG. 30: is a photograph of a version of a lattice structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element using a plurality of triangular shapes for the surface
pieces;
[0045] FIG. 31: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a fully folded configuration;
[0046] FIG. 32: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a first partially unfolded configuration;
[0047] FIG. 33: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a second partially unfolded configuration;
[0048] FIG. 34: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a third partially unfolded configuration;
[0049] FIG. 35: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a fourth partially unfolded configuration;
[0050] FIG. 36: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a first partially opened configuration;
[0051] FIG. 37: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a second partially opened configuration;
[0052] FIG. 38: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in another view of a third partially opened configuration;
and
[0053] FIG. 39: is an isometric view of a cube structure
constructed from a preferred embodiment of an inventive building
element, in a fully open and unfolded configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] The present invention is a type of basic building or
structural element and a plurality of these structural elements
that can be easily interconnected to create a system of structural
elements and more complex structure. The interconnected structural
elements can be connected and configured to make a wide variety of
three-dimensional structures, including from a simple triangle, or
cube, to a much more complex lattice/bridge structure, or geodome
structure.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, each structural element may be, in a
preferred embodiment, a relatively flat piece. The structural
element 10 has two pair of substantially parallel opposing sides.
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, each structural element 10
has a flexible hinge section 3 such that each structural element 10
has two sections 2a and 2b, and may be folded onto itself into an
essentially flat element. The three sequential drawings of FIG. 2
show an end view of the structural element in a fully open
configuration, a partially closed configuration, and lastly, a
fully closed, or folded configuration.
[0056] A preferred embodiment of the hinge section 3 has the
section configured with high flexibility, often called a "living
hinge." A living hinge 3 can be opened and then closed so that side
by side surfaces 2a, 2b in an open position can be folded to be
adjacent to each other and touching in both directions.
[0057] The structural elements 10 can be manufactured from a wide
variety of materials. Examples include, without limitation, paper,
card board, plastic, wood, concrete, masonry, metal, paneling,
drywall, ceramics. The hinge sections can similarly be manufactured
from many different materials, including paper, tape, plastic,
vinyl, metal, wire, rebar, chain, string, rope, or cable.
[0058] Each structural element 10 also has connecting means along
each of the sides of the elements 10. In a preferred embodiment, as
shown in FIG. 1, interconnecting male 7 and female 8 sections may
be formed along opposing sides. Similarly, as also shown in FIG. 1,
alternative male or T-shaped sections 4, may be configured to
connect with female end sections 5 and 6. The ability to
interconnect the structural elements 10, end to end is illustrated
in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, showing the connection of T-shaped section
4 into female end sections 5, 6.
[0059] By interconnecting a plurality of structural elements 10,
along both the sides using interconnecting male 7 and female 8
sections, and end to end using male 4 and female 5, 6 sections, a
wide variety of three dimensional shapes 100 may be quickly
configured. FIG. 4 shows an example of a triangular prism
configuration. A more complex shape, such as interconnecting two
triangular prisms is shown in FIG. 5.
[0060] Another basic example of a structure created from a system
of the core building elements is a cube shape formed by connecting
of twelve rectangular or quadrilateral elements. As shown in FIG.
6, the building element are partially folded, to an approximate
right angle and then each of the building elements are connected to
two other building elements at a respective edge.
[0061] By adding further structural elements, more complex shapes
can be easily constructed. More particularly, and as shown in FIGS.
7, 8 and 9, spherical shaped structures easily assembled. In each
of the structures shown in FIGS. 5 through 9, the core elements of
the hinged building structure system are a plurality of
substantially flat and substantially rigid structural elements 10,
and a plurality of flexible hinge sections 3 that are connected to
each other through the male and female interconnecting sections. As
noted, the hinge sections should be sufficiently pliable to permit
the structural elements to fold upon each other in the
fully-collapsed configuration.
[0062] Another preferred embodiment of a structural element 10 is
shown in FIG. 10. In this preferred embodiment, each structural
element is also a relatively flat piece, with a flexible hinge
section 3 such that each structural element 10 may be folded onto
itself into an essentially flat element. The structural element 10
shown in FIG. 10 has a series of notches 20 that can be used to
connect structural elements side to side in an essentially
perpendicular configuration as illustrated in FIG. 16.
[0063] As also shown in FIG. 10, the end interconnecting elements
have a different shape and configuration. The male section is
formed of two pieces 15 with a slot 21 between the two pieces 15.
The female section is also formed of two wider spaced pieces 11
with an opening and a slot 22 located between the two pieces 11.
FIGS. 11 and 12A, 12B, and 12C show how this embodiment of
structural elements 10 may be easily interconnected end to end by
linking the two male pieces 15 in between the two female pieces
11.
[0064] By partially folding the structural elements 10, and
connecting the end sections of the structural elements together,
various frame structures can be easily assembled. FIG. 13 shows
three structural elements about to be interconnected end to end to
form an apex of structure. Similarly, FIGS. 14 and 15 show
respectively four and five structural elements being interconnected
to form alternative corner sections of three-dimensional
structures. However, the structural elements need not be folded to
interconnect and form three dimensional structures. As shown in
FIG. 18, the end pieces 11 and 15 can be interconnected to form a
triangle shape, or by adding another structural element, a square
shape can be assembled (not shown).
[0065] Using the FIG. 10 embodiment, the structural elements 10 can
be connected to form longer elements, as shown in FIG. 17 by using
slots 21 and 22 located between end pieces 11 and 15.
[0066] As described above, the collapsible building structure
system, using larger size structural elements, could be used to
create more utilitarian structures. For example, FIGS. 19, 20, 21,
and 22 show a variety of frames which could be base structures for
a house or shed. In FIG. 19, cube form with a prism form on top
which could be the simple frame for a house. In this configuration,
the structural support members for a house, tent or shed could be
quickly assembled. Such structures could be used for temporary
housing for victims of natural disasters, such as floods,
earthquakes or fires. Such temporary housing or safe structures can
be easily transported in the compact folded configuration, and then
quickly put into place and finished once the support structure is
un-folded and assembled. Roofing and siding materials similarly can
be quickly installed to created a sealed and protective
structure.
[0067] More complex structures and shapes can be easily created by
adding more structural elements. FIGS. 23 through 30 show a series
photographs of various three dimensional structures formed from the
inventive structural elements 10. FIG. 23 shows a double helix
model formed from a preferred embodiment of the structural
elements. In this model and structure, the structural elements are
not folded, but are interconnected using the side notches 20. FIG.
24 is a relatively complex example of an icosahedron/dodecahedron
form using sixty structural elements. FIG. 25 shows a more
intricate example of a dodecahedron form from triangular sections
using ninety structural elements. A type of a "bucky ball" is shown
in FIG. 26 by connecting nine structural elements end to end to
from triangular shapes, and then interconnecting the ends of the
triangular shapes to form the "ball" shape.
[0068] Another spherical shape is shown in FIG. 27 formed from
twenty tetrahedron configurations and then interconnected to form
another dodecahedron. The FIG. 27 structure was formed from one
hundred twenty structural elements 10. FIG. 28 shows another
example of a dodecahedron formed from 240 structural elements 10.
Different building shapes can be interconnected as shown in FIG. 29
where six octahedrons are interconnected to eight tetrahedrons. As
another example of a complex building structure, FIG. 30 shows a
lattice design formed from octahedrons and tetrahedrons. In this
configuration, the three dimensional structure can be used as a
frame for a bridge or ladder. As such, the hinged structural
elements 10 can be used to assemble the frame system for many
products, buildings and other constructs such as dams, bridges,
towers, space stations and other possible built environments.
[0069] The series of drawings shown in FIGS. 31 through 39 show an
example of a cube structure starting in the fully folded state,
FIG. 31, then sequentially being unfolded into the completely open
cube, FIG. 39. The cube shape may thus be easily collapsed without
disassembly of the system of elements, such that in the completely
collapsed condition, the system of elements is relatively flat,
allowing for ease of storage and portability. Accordingly, the
structural elements provide a means of creating a collapsible
building structure system that can be, in different embodiments,
used as a toy-type object for children or adults, or can be used,
in larger configurations, as building elements for full-sized
buildings, sheds, tents, bridges, or other similar structures.
Particular features of the structural element system is that in a
fully-collapsed configuration, the system can be substantially
flat, while in a fully un-folded configuration, the system is a
three-dimensional structure that can be as simple as a triangle, to
as complex as, for example, a dodecahedron. One advantage of such a
collapsible structure building system is easy of storage and
transporting of building elements when the structures are in a
fully-collapsed or disassembled configuration.
[0070] As described, the inventive collapsible hinged building
structural system provides a system for disassembling and
collapsing a system of elements into a substantially flat
structure, and then, in an un-folded and assembled configuration,
having a full three-dimensional structure that can be a toy object,
a decorative piece, or a full structure which can be used for
buildings, housing, or bridge sections.
[0071] The above detailed description teaches certain preferred
embodiments of the present inventive building element device and
system of interconnectable building elements. The building element
device, including the hinge section and interconnecting elements,
allows for the construction of various three-dimensional structures
using a plurality of the element devices. The building element
devices can be easily transported in their flat and compact
configuration. Once constructed into a variety of structures, the
system of element devices can be easily collapsed into a relatively
flat and compact configuration, again for ease of transportation or
storage. While preferred embodiments of the building elements have
been described and disclosed, it will be recognized by those
skilled in the art that modifications and/or substitutions are
possible and such modifications and substitutions are within the
true scope and spirit of the present invention. It is likewise
understood that the attached claims are intended to cover all such
modifications and/or substitutions.
* * * * *